Millwall 2-2 U18s - report

21 January 2014

Blades win 8-7 on penalties

United will host Everton in the last 16 of the FA Youth Cup after a thrilling penalty shootout over Millwall at the New Den on Monday night.

The Blades looked to be beaten at half-time, trailing 2-0 after goals from Kyron Farrell and Ben Thompson had put the hosts in the ascendancy, but the visitors hit back with Jake Eyre netting, before Ben Whiteman restored parity from the penalty spot.

With neither side able to find a winner in the remaining normal time or the 30 extra minutes, it was left to Louis Reed to settle a tense shootout by converting the 20th spot kick of the shootout to send the Blades into the fifth round.

Millwall began the game brightly and came close to opening the scoring in the fourth minute. The Blades struggled to clear two corners, and from the second Alfie Pavey headed over. In the 21st minute, Pavey, a constant threat, drew a free-kick and FARRELL stepped up to drill a low effort past Eastwood.

The action was one-way traffic and Onyedinma poked an effort wide after a one-two with Philpot, whilst Pavey saw his path to goal blocked by a last-ditch tackle by Blades skipper Evans.
With United struggling to get into the game, the Lions doubled their lead just before the interval. THOMPSON picked the ball up in midfield and fired across Eastwood into the bottom corner from 25 yards out.

De Girolamo replaced Ishmail at the break and the Blades were quickly out of the blocks upon the restart, with Eyre and then De Girolamo both coming close to halving the deficit.

In the 54th minute, EYRE did get on the scoresheet, turning and firing home from close-range after Evans had headed a corner into the six yard box.

Ten minutes later United were level. Eyre, running away from goal, was brought down by Nelson and referee Serrano pointed to the spot. WHITEMAN sent Beadle the wrong way from 12 yards.

Pavey remained at the heart of the hosts' best work. He raced on to a hopeful through ball and found Philpot, but his chip dropped into the grateful arms of Eastwood at the second attempt.

In an increasingly end-to-end encounter, Eyre, one-one-one with Beadle, saw a left-footed effort go narrowly wide, before the instrumental De Girolamo missed the target from point-blank range.

After a hard-fought 90 minutes the game headed to extra-time but chances, with players visibly tiring, were sparse. Calvert-Lewin came closest for the Blades before Millwall substitutes Adeloye and Twardek spurned good opportunites, meaning spot-kicks would be required to settle the tie.

At 7-7, Lions skipper Nelson fired against the crossbar, allowing Blades substitute Louis Reed to slot home the decisive penalty.